June 14-2012: See this blog post re the same error in relation to Adobe Flash & Web Browser issues.

Adobe Reader X (10.0.0) is the new bad boy on the block, and is wreaking havoc with Dragon NaturallySpeaking (Professional, Medical and Legal) users everywhere. Whether you are using Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Outlook, a web based EMR such as Med Access, and likely sundry other applications, you may receive the following error while using Dragon, specifically when turning on your microphone: “COM returned an unexpected error code: Details are HOOKERR_NONOTIFYWINDOW”. After receiving this error, you will be unable to use Dragon until you restart your PC. However, shutting down all applications and restarting your PC will only temporarily resolve the issue, but it is not a fix.

The Remedy

If 10.0.0., then try updating Adobe Reader to version 10.0.1, or the latest. Help> Check for Updates. As always, restart your PC after applying updates.

If you already have Adobe Reader 10.0.1, or the above did not remedy the Dragon error message, you can try disabling Adobe Reader X’s Protected Mode (Edit > Preferences > General and deselecting Enable Protected Mode at startup).

If the above does not provide a resolution to the Dragon error, remove Adobe Reader 9 via the control panel, and try another PDF reader such as Nuance’s free PDF reader.

Notes

If you have Adobe Acrobat Pro X, it is unlikely you will have this issue.

The issue may be intermittent and may occur in a multitude of applications, but not in others (i.e. the error may appear when using IE, but not MS Word).

This error may occur even if you do not have Adobe Reader installed — it’s entirely possible that any application that prevents Dragon from “hooking in” will produce this error.

If one of the above remedies seems to function in removing the hook error, you may find yourself faced with a new Dragon error: “SendKeys cancelled“. If that is the case, please proceed with the next step in the above list of remedies.

If one of the above remedies seems to cure the Dragon errors, and you find yourself faced with the inability to select or correct text in Internet Explorer or other applications where FTC (Full Text Control) is available, proceed with the next step in the above list of remedies.

Why is this Happening?

The issue is not Dragon’s fault (believe me, I’m the first to raise a hand when Dragon is the heart of a problem), even though Dragon is providing the error message (and ceasing to function). Most applications on a computer hook into one another in some fashion. When a hook cannot be established, an application can become unstable and error out.

Dragon, in particular, needs to hook into applications so that you may launch them by voice and also for Dragon to determine Full Text Control compatibility. Therefore, when it cannot hook into an application and you turn the microphone on (at which point Dragon must be available to do your bidding), you may see this error.

The bottom line really is that Adobe Reader X is incompatible with Dragon (versions 10 and 11, and likely earlier versions as well), preventing Dragon from accessing certain applications.

Hopefully Adobe will provide their own fixes (they usually do), but if all else fails, remove Adobe’s PDF reader and install another reader.

I posted the original question. Thank you. Your solution to disable the protected mode worked. Adobe had updated to Reader X.

I am dictating this in Mozilla. I started with Dragon in 1998, and often get frustrated with the incompatibility issues created through software up dates. I will check your website out next time I have another Dragon issue.

I am getting the same error using Dragon Naturally speaking with Google Chrome.. If I have been using NS with Word and then click into a Google Chrome writing box – for me this is most commonly in Gmail, but it also happened with this box, I get the HOOKERR_NONOTIFYWINDOW error.

I’m having this problem quite often, but I don’t have Adobe Reader, I use Foxit PDF Reader 5. I haven’t even installed Adobe reader on this new computer EVER… I remember a year ago I used to use it, and it always messed up Dragon, so I vowed never to use Adobe Reader again.

So now that I’m not using it and it’s happening again, I have no idea what to do… any help? It would be greatly appreciated… I’m unable to use a keyboard because of a physical disability, so it’s very important that Dragon NaturallySpeaking always works. It is my main means of typing. I’m using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10.1 Professional, I also have 11.5 Professional, but the same thing happens no matter what version I use. I have even uninstalled it a few times and reinstalled it. I even uninstalled the visual run time thing (I can’t remember exactly what it’s called) it comes with which is required to run Dragon NaturallySpeaking. I tried uninstalling 10.1, and then reinstalled it. Then I upgraded to 11.5. Then I uninstalled 11.5 and went back to 10.1.

The latest update to Adobe Flash may actually be the culprit now (which is why you notice it when you load a web browser). I’m working with a colleague on this (he has the issue as of two days ago now), and will report any positive news I can.

I just wanted to let you know… downgrading to the previous version of flash fixed the problem! Thank you so much for your help. Nuance could not fix it but you did in no time! I can’t thank you enough.

Excellent post! After updating Adobe Reader, NaturallySpeaking was rendered useless on my system. First, I disabled the Protected Mode. That solved many of the problems and allowed me to dictate in Microsoft Word again. However, I was still having trouble dictating with Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft IE, and Google Chrome. I found your post and follow the steps to remove Adobe Reader 10. Now, I am able to WRITE THIS using Dragon NaturallySpeaking and Mozilla Firefox (my favorite browser).

I am in the process of installing the Dragon PDF reader. It seems that software will convert PDF documents to Microsoft work documents. That is a significant benefit, if it will do that!

Thanks for your suggestions. (Nuance has been hopeless/useless, as usual.) I’m no longer getting the HOOKERR or SendKey errors. I have uninstalled all Java and Adobe applications (disabling had no apparent effect), run the Advanced SystemCare 5 deep clean mode (free version) , and uninstalled Dragon NaturallySpeaking preferred 9.51 (including speech files) and reinstalled Dragon, but the full functionality of the program has not been restored. I’m using Firefox 13.0.1 and Vista SP2.

Many commands still no longer have the desired effect: attempting to open a website using Firefox’s shortcuts toolbar (e.g., “click Netflix”) and other commands (e.g., “click next”) have no effect. “”Go forward”/”go back” and “go to top”/”go to bottom” seem to be the only ones that are functional.

Any thoughts other than the ones you’ve already posted on how to return Dragon NaturallySpeaking with Firefox to its full functionality?

hey, i’ve uninstalled it, i’ve updated adobe and the problem is stil happening, i’ve had remtek online support trying to solve the problem, but sadly it is still happening. its making working very hard. i’ve got adobe reader XI, i have no idea what to do, think only opinion left is to unistall dragon and install it all over again, but then if the problem is with adobe then thats not really going to help.
please if any one knows how to sort this, please help

We’re also having the same issue.and with Adobe Reader XI. It seems this article was written before the new update. We haven’t uninstalled Adobe Reader and tried a re-install yet, but were you able to Helen? If so, did it work. Are you still getting the same error message? Or did you uninstall and re-install Dragon Medical?

In the current Adobe Reader version XI, I can’t seem to find anywhere to deselect the option to “Enable Protected Mode at Startup.”

Just provided a 2015 update, saw this same issue and it was when a DR is working in EMR and using Dragon. The only time he was getting the HOOKERR error was when he would add and addendum or a flag update to a chart. The machine was 7 Pro x64 with Adobe XI. I was able to correct the issue by going into Adobe/Edit/Preferences/Security (enhanced) and under sandbox protections and unchecking Enable protected mode setup at startup. User rebooted machine and it corrected the issue.